Harlem Globetrotters offer job to Royce White

PHOENIX - The Harlem Globetrotters are reaching out to Minneapolis native and NBA rookie forward Royce White of the Houston Rockets.

Royce has publicly said he has a fear of flyingwhich could cut short his NBA career.

"I have watched from afar an incredibly gifted basketball player who has struggled off the court with a fear of flying, and I truly feel for this young man," said Globetrotter Coach and Director of Player Personnel "Sweet" Lou Dunbar, in a news release. "While we truly hope Royce can overcome his fears, and have a highly successful NBA career, I just want him to know the Globetrotters offer their support and another option to play professional basketball without a rigorous flying schedule. He could have an opportunity to play for the Globetrotters, as many of our 270 games in North America are traveled by luxury bus. As for the 150 others overseas, well, we would have to excuse him from those games."

The 6-foot-8 White, the 16th overall pick in last year's draft from Iowa State, made a deal with the Rockets to travel by bus to some games this season, so he could confront with his fear of flying and obsessive compulsive disorder over the long term. He flew with the team to its season opener in Detroit, then traveled by bus to games at Atlanta and Memphis.

White was a Twin Cities high school basketball star who played for the Gophers before transferring to Iowa State.

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